Device for converting electric signals into mechanical displacements



April 25, 1961 BEGUIN 2,981,115 DEVICE FOR CONVERTING ELECTRIC SIGNALS INTO MECHANICAL DISPLACEMENTS Filed Dec. 3, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTUR RENE BEG N 5 Aggfi A TTORNE Y 1961 R. BEGUIN 2,981,115

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING ELECTRIC SIGNALS INTO MECHANICAL DISPLACEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 25 Filed Dec. 5, 1959 C Me IN VE N TOR RE NE BE U y 4 w A TTORNE Y device in its two-positions of operation, and

United States Pate DEVICE FOR CONVERTING ELECTRIC SIGNALS INTO MECHANICAL DISPLACEMENTS Ren Beguin, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Mefina S.'A., Fribourg, Switzerland, a firm Filed Dec. 3, 19 59, Ser. No. 857,215

Claims priority, application Switzerland Dec. 3, 1958 7 Claims. or. 74-45 The present invention relates to a device for converting electric signals into mechanical displacements of a controlled member.

As is known, there are frequently employed for the automatic control of machines, for the purpose of simplification, digital programmes, that is to say, programmes comprising a train of groups of items of information which are equal to one another and which set up electric digital signals which are thereafter converted into mechanical displacements of the controlled members by an electromechanical device. Each of the displacements is determined by the number of items of information of one group which are simultaneously read and by the position occupied by each of the said items of information in the said group.

The device according to the invention comprises a continuously rota-ted shaft, a series of juxtaposed wedges slidable transversely of said shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element in a direction transversely of the wedges produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, means for maintaining the wedges of said series constantly one against the other, at least one eccentric driven by the said shaft, a connecting rod for each wedge, pivotally connected to the eccentric and connected through a pair of links to two levers disposed on either side of the said shaft and each adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft, means being provided for locking one of the two lovers under the action of one of the said electric signals, so that a single lever of each pair can simultaneously rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge.

A constructional form of the device according to the invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section along the line II of Figure 2,

' Figure 2 is a section along the line II-II of Figure 1, Figures 3 and 4 are similar to Figure l and show the Figure 5 is a section along the line VV of Figure 1. The device comprises a shaft 1 on which is mounted an eccentric 2 to which a series of five connecting rods 3a to 3a is pivotally connected. The shaft 1 is continuously rotated in the bearin 's provided in the frame 4, by a source of energy not shown. The end of each of the connecting rods 3a to 32 is connected by a pair of links 5a to Sc and 6a to dc to two 'levers'la to'7e and 8a to Sc disposed on either side of the shaft! and pivotally mounted on a' pin 9 fast with the frame 4, the said levers each being adapted to rock in a: plane perpendicular to the shaft 1. The links 5 and 6 are pivotally connected to the connecting rod 3 and the levers 7 and 8 respectively. by means of pins 10, 11 and 12.

As will beseen from Figure 5, a connectingrod 3, a pain of. links 5 and 6 and a pair of levers 7 and 8, which forman assembly constituting one of the five units of the device, are situated in an elongated aperture 13 formed in a wedge 14. The five wedges 14a to are juxtaposed and bear on the frame 4 and supports 15 (Figure l) disposed within the latter. A plate 16 formed with elongated apertures 16a maintains the wedges 14a to 142 against the frame 4 and the supports 15.

The device comprises in addition five pairs of electromagnets 17a and 18a to 17c and 18e, one for each of the units. Each of the pairs of electromagnets 17 and 18 has a common armature 19a to 1% consisting of three limbs 19 19 19 by means of which two magnetic circuits can be obtained. The five electromagnets are supported by a base plate 20 secured to the frame 4 by means of screws 21. They are so arranged that the levers at 7 and 8 in their lower dead centre position rest on the limbs 19 and 19 respectively of the armature 319. The limb 19 is longer than the other two limbs 19 and 19 and is formed with a. V-shaped notchhaving rounded sides, which is adapted to cooperate with a latch 23 provided on each of the links 5 and 6.

A push rod 24, subject to the action of a spring 25, bears against the first wedge 14a, which. maintains the wedges 14a to 14s constantly one against the other owing to the bearing of the last wedge 14c against the surface do of the frame 4.

The device hereinbefore described operates in the following manner:

-The rotation of the shaft 1 produces, through the eccentric 2, the connecting rod 3 and the links 5 and 6, the rocking of-the levers '7 and 8. When neither of the electromagnets 17 and 18 is energised, the lovers 7 and 8 will, in the course of their rocking movement, displace the corresponding wedge 14 alternately from the right tothe left and from the left to the right, that is to say, into one or other of the extreme positions. On the other hand, when one of the two electromagnets is energised, for example the eleotromagnet .17, the lever 7 will be locked in its lower dead centre position (Figure 3) and only the lever 8 will be able to rock and to cause the displacement of the wedge 14- into its extreme right-hand position, in which it will remain as long as the lever 7 is locked (see the wedge 14a in Figure 5). Now, owing to the locking of the lever 17 effected as soon as the latch 23 is engaged in the slot 22, the energisation of the electromagnet can be interrupted until the next revolution of the shaft 1 without the lever 7 being released.

The energisation of the electroinagnet 18- will cause the lever 8 to be locked in its lower dead centre position, and it will be the lever 7 which will oscillate (Figure '4) and displace the wedge 14 into its extreme left-hand position (see the wedge 14b in Figure 5),1in which it will remain as long as the lever 8 is locked. Thus, as the result of these alternate energisations, of the electromagnets 17 and 18, the wedges 14 are displaced into one or other of their extreme positions.

It will readily be seen that the thickness constituted of the assembly of wedges 14a to Me between the push rod 24 and the surface 4a of the frame depends upon the position of each of the wedges and may be varied by disprogramme;

. -Qf the' five wedges 14a to 14c of the device illustrated in' Figure 5, the wedges 14a 14c'and 14a occupy their extreme'right-hand'positions, the wedges 14b and This energisation will be effected 14d occupying their extreme left-hand positions. Now, any change in the position of one or more of these wedges will vary the thickness of the wedging means which they form between the surface 4a of the frame and the push rod 24-, which is possible by virtue of the fact that the latter bears resiliently against the Wedge 14a. The variation of the thickness of the wedging means formed of the wedges will ultimately result in variations of the axial position of the push rod 24, in accordance with a digital programme. It is obvious that the displacements of the push rod may be utilised for the automatic control of the members of a machine.

The wedges, of which there could be any number, may be so designed that the variation of the thickness of the wedging means which they form results in accordance with a predetermined binary code, from the displacement, under the action of the levers, of each of the wedges. Thus, if the usual binary code is used, all wedges should be difierent and the angles formed by the contact surfaces should be, for successive wedges, in the ratio 1, 2, 4, 8, 2.

It is to be noted that the conversion of the electric signals into mechanical displacements is effected with a power amplification, since the power necessary for effecting these displacements is supplied by the shaft 1, that is to say, from an independent and continuous energy source, so that the power of the electric signals may be very low. The electromagnets 17 and 18 merely have the efiect of holding the levers 7, 8 fast when they light- 1y touch their armature at zero speed. Consequently, they supply no mechanical work.

It will be obvious that various modifications could be made to the device described by way of example without varying the essential features thereof. Thus, instead of a single eccentric 2, a plurality of such eccentrics could be employed, for example one to each of the connecting rods. Instead of a common armature for each of the pairs of electromagnets, a separate armature could be provided for each electromagnet of one pair. On the other hand, the central limb of the armature could be of equal length to the other two, while the slot 22 cooperating with the latch 23 could be formed in a fixed part of the device.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for converting electric signals into corresponding mechanical displacements of a controlled member, a rotative drive shaft and eccentric means, a series of juxtaposed wedges, means for maintaining the wedges of said series constantly one against the other, said controlled member being movable by said wedges and said Wedges being slidable transversely of said drive shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element transversely of said elements produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, a connecting rod for each wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of levers for each wedge and the levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaftjin driving engagement with the corresponding wedge, a link for each :of said levers connecting same to the corresponding rod,

.and electric signal'responsive means forlocking one of said levers of each pair againstrocking movement so that the remaining lever of each pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge inresponse to rotation of said drive shaft.

2. In a device for converting electric signals into corresponding mechanical displacements of a controlled member, a rotative drive shaft and eccentric means, a series of juxtaposed wedges, means for maintaining the wedges of said seriesconstantly one against the other, said. controlled member being movable by said wedges andsaid wedges being slidable transversely of 'saiddrive shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element transversely of said elements produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, a connecting rod for each Wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of levers for each wedge having an interconnecting pivot pin affording an axis parallel to said shaft and the respective levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft and drivingly displace the corresponding wedge transversely of said shaft, a link for each of said levers connecting same to the correspondingrod, and electric signal responsive means for locking one of said levers of each pair against rocking movement so that the remaining lever of each pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge in response to rotation of said drive shaft.

3. In a device for converting electric signals into corresponding mechanical displacements of a controlled member, a rotative drive shaft and eccentric means, a series of juxtaposed wedges, means for maintaining the wedges of said series constantly one against the other, said controlled member being movable bysaid wedges and said Wedges being slidable transversely of said drive shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element transversely of said elements produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, a connecting rod for each wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of le-vers for each Wedge disposed on opposite sides of said shaft and the respective levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft and drivingly displace the corresponding wedge transversely of said shaft, a link for each of said levers connecting same to the corresponding rod and an electromagnet for each of saidlevers and adapted to be energized by electric signals for locking one of said levers of the corresponding pair of levers so that the remaining lever of the pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge in response to rotation of said drive shaft.

4. In a device for converting electric signals into corresponding mechanical displacements of a controlled member, a rotative drive shaft and eccentric means, a series of juxtaposed wedges, means for maintaining the wedges of said series constantly one against the other, said con- I trolled member being movable by said wedges and said Wedges being slidable transversely of said drive shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element transversely of said elements produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, a connecting rod for each wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of levers for each wedge disposed on opposite sides of said shaft and the respective levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft and drivingly displace the corresponding wedge transversely of said shaft, a link for each of said levers connecting same to the corresponding rod, and electric signal responsive means for locking one of said levers of each pair against rocking movement so that the remaining lever of each pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge in response to rotation of said drive shaft, said electric signal responsive means including locking members adapting one of the two levers of each pa ir tgbe looked as on s the other lever of the pair is set into m0ti&1T

length thereof, a fixed abutment supporting one end element of said series of wedges, the other end element of said series of wedges being in driving engagement with said controlled member for moving the latter member, a resilient member biasing said other end element of said series of wedges so that the wedges are maintained constantly one against the other, a connecting rod for each Wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of levers for each wedge extending through said aperture in the wedge and disposed on opposite sides of said shaft, the levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft and drivingly displace the corresponding wedge transversely of said shaft, a link for each of said levers connecting same to the corresponding rod, and electric signal responsive means for locking one of said levers of each pair against rocking movement so that the remaining lever of each pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge in response to rotation of said drive shaft.

7. In a device for converting electric signals representing binary numbers into corresponding mechanical displacements of a controlled member, a rotative drive shaft and eccentric means, a series of juxtaposed wedges, one for each digit of said binary numbers, means for maintaining the wedges of said series constantly one against the other, said controlled member being movable by said wedges and said wedges being slidable transversely of said drive shaft whereby each relative displacement of one end element of said series of wedges with respect to the other end element transversely of said elements produces a corresponding displacement of said controlled member, a connecting rod for each wedge pivotally connected to said eccentric means, a pair of levers for each wedge and the levers of each of said pairs being adapted to rock in a plane perpendicular to said shaft in driving engagement with the corresponding wedge, a link for each of said levers connecting same to the corresponding rod, and means responsive to electric signals representing binary numbers for locking one of said levers of each pair against rocking movement so that the remaining lever of each pair can rock and produce a single displacement of the corresponding wedge representing the corresponding digit of the binary numbers in response to rotation of said drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

